Folding stand or table



(No Model.)

W. P. ROBERTS. FOLDING STAND OR TABLE.

.flttorney 1 UNITED STATEsPATENT' OFFICE.

\VILLIAM l. ROBERTS, .OF SUN BURY, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDlNG STAND OR TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,298. dated May 19,1885.

Application filed October 28, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. RoBERTs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sunbury, in the county of Northumberland and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements inFolding Stands or Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to certain new and usef ul improvements in foldingtables or stands, the same being designed, primarily, for the use ofundertakers as a support for coffins, though it is evident that myinvention is applicable to numerous other uses, and may be employedwherever a strong folding table is desired.

My invention consists, specially, in the construction and combination ofthe parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing thestand or table open in the position for use. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview showing the parts folded one upon the other; Fig. 3, a detailsectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail view.

A represents the top of the table, which may be of any desired shape,and to said top are attached, to one side of the center and on a linewith each other, hinges a a, which are provided with leaves I) b ofdifferent lengths, one leaf being twice the length of the other, asfully shown in Fig. 2.

A support, B, consisting of a central portion .or upright, B, to whichare rigidly attached the legs B B, is secured to the top A by the hingesa a, the leaf 0 of the hinge a being let into the upper portion of theleg B, so as to be flush with the upper surface thereof, and the leaf 6of the hinge a is also let into the upper portion of the leg 13'. Thelegs B B are connected to each other near their upper and lower portionsby metallic plates 0 c, which are constructed as shown in Fig. 4. Thecentral vertical standard, B, or upright at its upper and lower portionsis on the same plane with the outer surfaces of the legs B B, as shownat (Z (Z, while adjacent to these portions (2 d the same is beveled orinclined throughout its whole length, as shown at d in Fig. 1, thesebeveled or inclined sides being parallel with each other. It will benoticed that the legs B 13, though rigidly attached to each other andhinged to the top of the table, do not lie in the same line with eachother, but upon different planes, as shown in Fig. 3. The pintles of thehinges are, however, on a line with each other.

To the upper and lower ends of the standards B, by means of metallicplates 6 e, which are shaped as shown in Fig. 4, through which passbolts f f, are attached the legs 0 O. The upper part of the leg 0 isrecessed or cut away, as shown at h, so as to leave anupwardly-projecting portion, h, said recess being provided for thepurpose of allowing the leg to pass under the leaf 1) of the hinge a,attached to the leg 13. The inner portions, 9 g, of the legs G C are atright angles with the body portion of said leg, and when said legs areturned outwardly this portion will abut against the straight portions (Z(Z of the central upright or standard, B.

It will be seen from the foregoing: descrip tion and the accompanyingdrawings that I provide a table or stand which when the legs are openand the top turned down will be exceedingly rigid, and which when foldedup will occupy but little space, and that the top when folded parallelwith the leg will prevent the spreading of the same.

I claim- 1. In a folding table or stand, for the purpose set forth, thetop A, provided with hinges a a, having leaves of different lengthsattached to the upper portion of the legs B B, and legs 0 O, centrallypivoted to the legs attached to the top, substantially as shown, and forthe purpose set forth.

2. I11 a folding table or stand, the top A, having hinges a 0., attachedto one side of the center of the same and provided with leaves I) b ofdifferent lengths, which are let into the top of the legs B B, said legsbeing each rigidly connected to a central upright, B, in combinationwith the legs 0 0, connected to each other by vstraps or plates 0 e, andatother, theupper portion of the legs 0 being 10 tached to the centralupright by bolts ff, subprovided with a recess, h, substantially as andstantially as described, and for the purpose for the purpose set forth.

set forth. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 3. In a foldingtable or stand, the legs B presence of two witnesses.

B, hinged to the top, substantially as de- XVILLIAM P. ROBERTS. scribed,in combination with the legs G C, I Vitnesses: connected to each otherand pivoted to the up- HENRY TREGELLAs,

right 13, so that the legs will fold against each JACOB SI-IIPMAN.

